Chapter 90: A Clash with Yang Dengying

No matter how clever you are, you’ll have to drink the water I wash my feet with! The grand drama begins!

In the fifth cell, the lead ronin did not disappoint Chen Jiehua; he found Higashigo’s katana!

“This sword is too familiar! Director Senjuin Kichi—Lord Matsukata personally presented this katana to Mr. Higashigo in front of everyone!”

The ronin crowded around their leader and rushed out of the cell, returning to the first-floor hall.

The Chief Inspector’s mind buzzed like a swarm of bees as he stood in the first-floor hall, mouth agape, listening to his subordinates’ reports.

How the hell did such a huge, long sword end up in the fifth cell? Who is locked up there? The suspected Red Party member? I took a hefty bribe to extradite him to Mr. Yang!

The Chief Inspector jolted—something’s fishy! The Japanese are targeting whoever is in cell number five! He hurriedly whispered to the detective beside him, “Call Mr. Yang immediately! If he’s late, the Japanese will take him away!”

Chen Jiehua saw the Chief Inspector and the detective whispering but couldn’t catch their words. He glanced at Mio, who could hear but not understand English!

Chen Jiehua wanted to stop the detective rushing upstairs but found no excuse, so he had to handle what was in front of him first.

“Chief Inspector, Japanese national Mr. Higashigo Naotada was found dead in the alley behind the police station. His katana was discovered in the fifth underground cell of the police station. These two facts are correct, right?”

“You are correct,” the Chief Inspector replied. His mind was focused on delaying tactics, hoping to stall until Mr. Yang arrived. Then, with both parties at odds, he could pass the blame. God, I can’t outplay you Easterners! How the hell did that sword get in there?

“Chief Inspector, it would be best if you admitted it now! According to my subordinate’s report, Higashigo Naotada has been missing for over ten days. This fact can be investigated. Also, Higashigo died last night, shot dead—this too is beyond doubt, right?”

“You are correct,” the Chief Inspector responded.

“Good. I have every reason to suspect that Higashigo Naotada was being held in the fifth cell of the police station and was shot dead by your officers last night for unknown reasons. Whether it was a cover-up or a mistaken killing during an escape attempt requires investigation. We will conduct our own inquiry—I do not trust the police station’s conclusions!”

“Therefore, I must take Higashigo’s body, his weapons, and everything in the fifth cell—including possibly the only eyewitness inside! The truth is out!”

Just as expected! You’re here for him! Who exactly is this person? Why are the Japanese going to such lengths to capture him?

“You may take your dead ronin’s body and the katana, of course, but the person in the fifth cell cannot be handed over, as we have already promised to extradite him to Mr. Yang of the Republic!”

Chen Jiehua’s heart skipped a beat—Mr. Yang!

“Mr. Yang, special commissioner of the Republican Fruit Party’s Investigation Department stationed in Shanghai, will arrive shortly!”

Damn, it really is him! The comrades in the organization have handed him over to the Central Bureau agent—does he even have a chance? We must stop this! Damn, that detective just went upstairs to call Yang Dengying! Carelessness!

“We must take the person!” Chen Jiehua calculated the time. From the Investigation Department’s Shanghai office to here, it takes only ten minutes at full speed. Damn, we must hurry!

“Mr. Aoki, may I ask—if you take the person and the body away, can we assume you will no longer trouble our police station?”

That was another dilemma.

Agreeing to not cause trouble later would be admitting openly that our real target is the person in cell five, and after staging this whole act with so many people, we wouldn’t hold the English police responsible. That would be hard to explain to the Japanese!

If we refuse, they will drag their feet and not release the person! We won’t be able to rescue our comrade!

Just as Chen Jiehua was about to take the risk and agree, the screeching of car brakes echoed outside!

Too late! No need to choose!

Thirty seconds later, Yang Dengying burst in with a large group of agents! The Japanese soldiers and ronin outside were outnumbered and subdued!

“Oh, so it’s Mr. Aoki here. No wonder there were so many Japanese ronin outside the English police station.”

“Mr. Yang, what brings you here now?”

“Oh, one of my deputies was arrested by their police station. I just found out he’s here a few days ago. I’m here to bring him back!”

“Chief Inspector Henry, where is my man?”

“Mr. Yang, your man is in the fifth cell, but unfortunately, this Japanese colonel also wants to take the prisoner in cell five!”

“Oh? What a coincidence! Mr. Aoki has taken a liking to my deputy?”

“Whether he’s your deputy is debatable! Why don’t we bring him out and let him choose—whether to go with you or with me?”

Chen Jiehua was confident the man inside was their comrade. They had Mio here—he would definitely recognize her! As for you, a mere agent from the Investigation Department, there’s no way he’s your deputy!

“I agree to Mr. Aoki’s proposal!” Yang Dengying thought, Brother Hu and I had already made contact. He will definitely choose to go with me. Damn, if the Japanese take him, will he even have a chance? Absolutely not! I’d risk everything to snatch him back!

“Since both sides agree, that’s great! Two men, bring the prisoner from cell five out!”

Chief Inspector Henry thought, this was their own idea—let the prisoner choose. I’m just the observer!

Mr. Hu was carried out of cell five by two detectives. Seeing the three groups present—the English police, the Japanese, and on the other side, Lin Mio, plus Mr. Yang leading the third party—

“Mr. Hu, this Mr. Yang says you are his deputy. Do you know him?” Chen Jiehua asked first.

“Yes, he is my superior, Yang Dengying.”

Just that one sentence nearly floored Chen Jiehua, but being a seasoned agent, he kept his composure. He stepped forward to block Chief Inspector Henry’s sight and simultaneously averted Lin Mio’s gaze, focusing on Hu Shaofu, who gave a slight nod.

Damn! New development! Chen Jiehua’s mental processor was struggling! But as a battle-hardened veteran, he silently conceded.

“Alright, since Mr. Hu is confirmed as Mr. Yang’s deputy, Mr. Aoki will not interfere further! But if Mr. Hu is needed for later investigations, Mr. Aoki will personally visit!”

“Please do!” Chen Jiehua stepped aside, handing Mr. Hu over to Yang Dengying, and gave Mio a calming look.

Chen Jiehua watched as Yang Dengying took Mr. Hu away, then turned and said in English to Chief Inspector Henry, “Chief Inspector, pardon the intrusion! Until this matter is resolved, Mr. Aoki will visit again!”

With that, he walked over to the ronin, took the “Senjuin Kichi” katana, and left the police station’s first-floor hall.

Outside, Aoki signaled Murata and Takeda to regroup.

After all the fuss, they had only succeeded in making the body and the katana public!

Utter confusion!